We encourage students to apply by April 1. This gives students the best chance of receiving State Aid that is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must complete the FAFSA each year.

The FAFSA will require the student's household information. If the student is married, the spouse's information will also be required. Students under 24 are generally required to submit the parent's information.

Email is our official means of communication with students. Students are advised to check his/her campus email to avoid delays.

Complete the online admissions application or meet with an advisor at a campus for assistance. Lone Star College will only process financial aid applications after a student has successfully completed our admissions application.

If selected, you will be notified of any requirements via your LSCS campus e-mail address. An e-mail account will be assigned to you after completing an admissions application. You can check your e-mail by logging into myLoneStar. Promptly submit the requested information to avoid delays.

IRS Data Retrieval Tool

The IRS data retrieval tool allows financial aid applicants and their parents to directly transfer tax information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Benefits of the Using the Tool

It’s the easiest way to provide your tax return data.

It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.

Applicants selected for verification can use the tool to update the

the the ability to transfer their income information from the IRS to the FAFSA.

Tax Filers

Electronic tax filers

If you filed your taxes electronically the data will be available within 2 weeks of filing

Paper tax filers

If you filed your taxes using paper then your data will not be available for 6 to 8 weeks.

Ineligible to use Data Retrieval

If you, the student, and/or parents answer yes to any of the following, you may not be able to use the Data Retrieval Tool.

Filed as Married Filing Separately if you are married.

Filed as Head of Household if you are married.

Filed an amended tax return (1040X).

Filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return if you filed a tax return in Puerto Rico or a foreign country.

Recently filed taxes, if you filed taxes electronically within the last two weeks, or by mail within the last eight weeks. Recent filers may wait the 2 or 8 weeks and return to the FAFSA and use the tool if eligible.